Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter or anything else like that! I do hope that you all realize that by now, even if you might, on that slight possibility, not have known that on the forehand.
A/N: Okay, well, I hope that you all liked the last chapter that I left you. Actually, judging from the reviews, most of you seemed to like it very much, though many of you still seem to be mad with me about my decision to kill of Minerva. I am so incredibly sorry for going against what you want. And to girl from Iceland, yes I do know where it is at! Anyway, I cannot reply to all of you individually this time, but perhaps in the next chapter I will be able to. So, on with this story. Dramatic exeunt stage left
Minerva did not know where she wanted to go when Albus first started chasing her. After all, she didn't plan on telling him right away about her illness, so it just caught her off guard. And what was worse was that Albus was right behind her. Not sure what else she should do, she transformed into her animagus form and sprinted away as fast as she could toward the grand double doors near the Great Hall. For even though she knew not where to go, she knew that she could not stay in the castle. Albus would surely find her there, whereas outside, she at least had a small chance of avoiding him.
Just as she passed through the double doors, she knew where she had to go. She would go where she always went when she needed time alone to think. Ever since she was a student at Hogwarts, she had her own place she went when she was scared or just needed to be alone. Running as fast as her legs could carry her, she made her way to the lake. There was a spot on the opposite side that was completely surrounded by weeds and tall grass. It was there that she felt most safe from the world, where she could just lie down and not be seen from anyone else. And it was there, now, that she ran to get away from Albus, whom she was quite certain would ask her question after question.
She arrived at the appointed spot safely in her cat form without having met any of the other staff, which was very unusual. She knew Hagrid would be at the train station, seeing Harry and his friends off. After all, they all would be leaving by now. And Poppy, of coarse, would be completing a few last minute things while Severus prepared to go home to Crystal. But she would have expected Xiomara to be out flying her broom over the grounds or to see Sylvia tending to some flowers in the greenhouse.
Minerva's thoughts raced through her mind. Now that Albus knew she was sick, she would have to find exactly how to explain things to him. How could she tell him that she had cancer? How could she tell him she was dying? How could she tell him all this and still withhold the fact that she had loved him for more than four decades? She had so many questions and no answers for them. Not knowing what else to do, she just lay there, now in human form, sprawled on the ground, crying. It was all so frustrating and sad at the same time. She immediately tensed when she felt someone stroking her hair. Looking up, she saw the saddened blue eyes of Albus. She looked back down at the ground.
"Please, Minerva, tell me," he whispered. "How sick are you?" Minerva sniffed.
"Very sick, Albus," she managed to choke out. She dug her fingers into the moist ground. It was very soft soil because they had had a late spring/ early summer shower the night before. Albus, feeling his heart beginning to crack and slowly crumble, sat down next to her and pulled her half off the ground and hugged her.
"I beg of you, Minerva, tell me it can be remedied," he pleaded. "Tell me it can be fixed." His heart began to crumble even faster when he felt her slowly shake her head back and forth.
"No, Albus," she said. "It cannot. Albus… I'm dying." Well, she thought, now he knows. Albus could no longer pretend to be strong. The tears fell like rain as he sobbed uncontrollably, holding the woman he had ever loved in his arms, her head on his chest. As for Minerva, she could not hold back the new wave of tears which had formulated in her beautiful green eyes when he lifted her into his embrace.
"Gods, no Minerva," he sobbed, hugging her tighter. "Please tell me it's not true. Minerva, I… I…" He bit his bottom lip, something he had never done in his life. Should he tell her? He really didn't think it was fair to tell her he loved her, not after she had just told him she was dying. But he just couldn't stop himself. The words just came tumbling out before he could keep his mouth shut. "I love you, Minerva."
Minerva's head shot up when she heard the words she had longed to hear for so long tumble from the lips of the man she loved in return. At first, she thought it had just been wishful thinking. But there was sincerity in his eyes she just could not ignore, and the tears in his eyes emphasized his admittance even more.
"Do you mean that, Albus?" she asked, hoping that her mind wasn't playing tricks or that he just said that in the heat of the moment. But, much to her surprise, he nodded.
"Yes, Minerva," he said. "I really do. I didn't want to tell you, but I have, and now that it is out there in the open, I would just like to say that it is quite alright if you do not return my feelings. I have loved you from afar for many decades, and I shall continue to do so, if it be your will." What happened next practically threw him for a loop.
"I love you too, Albus," said Minerva. "Only, I didn't tell you. First, I was afraid you wouldn't love me in return, and then, when Poppy told me I was dying after I had passed out, I didn't think it was fair to since I'm," Here, Albus pressed his finger against her lips.
"Don't say it," he said, tears still streaming down his face. He kissed her gently on the lips and was thrilled when she kissed him back. He pulled away and held her face in both hands. "You are not going to die, do you understand me? We are going to find you the best doctors the wizarding world can find. You survived four stunners to the chest; surly you can defeat cancer." Minerva's lips trembled.
"I do hope you are right, Albus," she whispered. She really didn't think she could beat the cancer which now inhabited her body, but she didn't want to say as much to Albus. She didn't want to crush his optimism. It just seemed like such a cruel thing to do. If nothing else, the best thing for any man, or woman, to have is hope. And to crush that hope is to cause a chain reaction, resulting in the loss of ones dreams.
"Of course I am right," said Albus. He kissed her again, and this time he didn't stop it. Instead, he just kissed Minerva, savoring every moment of it. Minerva was also enjoying the kiss that she had dreamt so much about. And both were experiencing a wide range of emotions that went from depressed about her disease to being thrilled at having found each other. Lying down in the tall grass, they just held each other and exchanged comforting words. It was hours before they decided it was best to go back to the castle for lunch. So, they walked back, hand in hand, both feeling better at having expressed their love.
"My, my, don't we seem happy," drawled Severus as he met them at the double doors with his trunk. Minerva smiled up at him.
"Yes, well, I told him about my cancer," she said. Severus frowned.
"And this is something to be happy about?" he asked. Albus chuckled slightly and shook his head.
"No, Severus. We are happy because we have discovered that we both love each other, but have been too scared to admit it." Severus scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Really, you two, that is old news," he said. "Everyone in the bloody castle knew that. If you would have just asked one of us, we would have told you a long time ago that each of you had feelings for the other. You've only been dancing around each other like two monkeys in a circus."
"Well, why didn't anyone say anything to us?" inquired Minerva, trying to look stern, but not really succeeding. Severus shrugged.
"Once again, no one really asked," he replied. "It wasn't for anyone of us to say, so we just stayed out of it. Though, there were several times Xiomara wanted to say something."
"Why does that not surprise me?" sighed Minerva.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have a train to catch," said Severus.
"Very well, then," said Albus. "Do tell Crystal I said 'hello', will you?"
"Of course, headmaster," he said, bowing slightly.
"Give her my love," said Minerva. Then, she placed her hand on his arm. "And, please… break it to her gently. She'll be much moodier than usual, due to the pregnancy."
"Certainly, Minerva," he smiled. "I shall see you both at the beginning of next term." With another bow, he made his way to the train station, levitating his trunk behind him.
……………..
A/N2: Okay, there you go. I hope you all liked that chapter. I felt so sad when I was writing it. I felt so sorry for Minerva and Albus. I don't know if I wrote it well enough for any of you to think of it as that powerful, but since I knew what I was trying to say, I felt very sad. I hope it was powerful to you all. Well, tell me what you think, please. It means a lot to me when anyone reviews. Peace out! Always Hopeful
